It may sound strange to grow banana plants in a country like the Netherlands. Not all varieties will do equally well in the Netherlands, but the Musa dwarf cavendish is easy to grow at home in our climate, with the right care and attention. Nice to give such a ‘puppy’ for example. They grow quite fast and they are real eye catchers in the house that also bring an idyllic tropical atmosphere. If you can get your hands on a Musa dwarf cavendish or if you already have one, it is not difficult to multiply your banana plant population at a rapid pace.
Musa dwarf cavendish
The Musa acuminata dwarf cavendish, as its full name goes, is a cultivar of the commercial banana plant whose fruits you can get in the supermarket. However, this ‘dwarf’ variant is a lot smaller, as the name suggests.
Where the commercial plant can reach a height of 7 to 9 meters and stands in nature, the dwarf cavendish can ‘only’ grow up to 2.5 meters. In contrast to its big brother, this makes it a suitable house plant. The dwarf cavendish originated in Southeast Asia and belongs to the palm species.
The mock strain
The center of the musa plant is called the false stem. From there new leaves are pushed up. With every new leaf that is formed, the false stem grows in thickness. An adult plant therefore has a thicker and firmer trunk than young banana plants.
The leaves of the plant can grow up to 4 meters long. Young, newly formed leaves can take on a red glow that disappears later. Adult leaves have a (bright) green color. In some leaves, a dark-colored spotted print may form that resembles camouflage.
Over time – this can take years – provided the conditions are optimal for the plant, a flower may emerge from the false stem. This flower has a purple mantle and consists of many small white flowers. These flowers will grow into edible bananas about 15 to 20 cm long.
Reproduction of the musa
The dwarf cavendish quickly develops shoots at the base of the false trunk when the plant is in good condition. Musas propagate through the principle of cloning, in a vining fashion at the base of the trunk. By means of selection and breeding of various varieties, musas no longer reproduce via seeds, as the oldest banana plants still did 7,000 years ago.
Sword pups and water pups
Mother plants, on the other hand, form ‘cuttings’ at the base of the false stem that are identical to the mother plant. These are called ‘puppies’. The puppies can be categorized in sword pups and water pups.
The difference lies in the shape of the plant. Sword pups grow faster than water pups and the leaves are less dense. They are also a bit more pointed in appearance. Water pups, on the other hand, look fuller and more compact. As a result, the sunlight does not reach all leaves as well, so that this variant generally grows less quickly than the sword pup, which can better absorb the sunlight with all its leaves.
Care of the banana plant
A good breeding depends of course on proper care, but also a bit of luck. The dwarf banana is easy to grow indoors, which is also highly recommended because of the (room) temperature indoors. Outdoors you have to deal with varying weather conditions, which in the worst case can be disastrous for the plant.
The dwarf cavendish is an easy plant for people who have less green fingers, because it is not a plant that requires extreme care or has specific requirements. Moreover, the plant is not notorious for diseases that are difficult to nip in the bud.
Tips for growing the Musa dwarf cavendish
When properly cared for, the plant will thrive and reward you with new leaves and puppies on a regular basis. Please note the following:
- Provide a good location with plenty of heat and sunlight
- Give plenty of water
- Fertilize in good time
- The plant must have enough space in the pot
- Be careful cutting off shoots
Good location
The musa is preferably placed in a place near a window all year round and preferably on the south. This is especially important in the winter months when the number of hours of sunshine decreases. In the summer the plant could go outside in full sun and a temperature above 12 degrees, but always protect the plant against wind. Too much wind causes the leaves to tear easily, which is a waste of the appearance of your plant.
Do not put the plant outside all year round. The dwarf cavendish is not resistant to frost and does not tolerate low temperatures well. The plant will start to look untidy and lifeless and there is a chance that your plant will not survive this. If you want to take a chance and let it hibernate outside, at least cover it with a protective cover.
To water
The dwarf cavendish is a thirsty plant and does not like to stand in too dry soil. Ideally, give adult plants a splash of water every other day. The soil your plant is in should feel slightly moist. Especially in the summer months when it is warm (indoors) you will have to give the plant extra water.
Depending on the size of your plant and pot, the plant will sometimes need a liter or a few liters at a time. Just make sure you have good drainage in your pot so that the roots don’t settle in excess water. This prevents root rot to which the plant can die. It is therefore recommended to use an inner pot.
Giving fertilizer
Give your musa some (extra) fertilizer now and then. Preferably at the beginning of the growing season in the spring. For this you can use ecological compost or fertilizer, such as cow manure pellets. Universal liquid fertilizer is also sufficient. In other words, it doesn’t really matter what kind of fertilizer you give the plant, it will be happy with it anyway.
A suitable pot
Your musa will show if she is in a pot that is too small and her roots do not have enough space. The leaves will droop and her beautiful green color will change for a yellow / brown color.
The best time to change the pot is in the spring, before the start of the growing season. This will prevent you from harming budding root shoots and any puppies. You will notice that the musa gets a boost when it is in a larger pot and starts growing again.
Cutting away sword pups and water pups
Finally, it is important that you are careful when cutting off shoots. When the plant starts to multiply, wait preferably before cutting the puppy away until it is two thirds the size of the mother plant. Then the roots of the puppy will at least be strong enough to continue the growth on their own. If you cut them away earlier, you will put them to the test and the puppy may die.
Cutting off runners is very easy with a kitchen knife. Cut the pup off the mother plant in the middle of the attachment. You do not necessarily have to remove the plant completely from the pot. By simply exposing (excavating) the attachment, you can already cut it. However, be careful when pulling the puppy out of the soil and do not pull too hard, then the roots will remain intact.